15:20 Doncaster

Sunday 2 April 2023

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Mental Health Awareness Handicap

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 1m 17.44s

(16)

Magical Spirit¹⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95| CD

18/1

C&D winner in 2021 but winless and below par in a light campaign last season. No surprise if he bounced back to form here though off a reduced mark.

Form: 2/50704-

(20)

Hyperfocus^p¹⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 94| D

18/1

Haydock 6f winner last July and he signed off for 2022 with good second in big-field York handicap in the autumn. One to consider given he has gone well fresh in the past.

Form: 443022-

(8)

Intrinsic Bond²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Swift| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 94| CD

33/1

Dual winner last season, including in Great St Wilfrid at Ripon (6f) in August. This C&D scorer has won in the mud too so he is one for the shortlist on his reappearance.

Form: 571100-

(2)

Aleezdancer¹⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: N Callan| T: K A Ryan| OR: 93| D

9/2

Consistent sort who bagged a 6f Ripon handicap in August and ended his campaign with a good Ascot third following month. Not discounted starting out now for 2023.

Form: 761303-

(5)

Dream Composer²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: H J Evans| OR: 92| D

14/1

Successful 3 times on turf last season, latterly at Ascot (5f) in October, and he resumed with a solid third in 6f Wolverhampton handicap last month. Considered off an unchanged mark.

Form: 04210-3

(18)

Tinto¹⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 92| D

16/1

Dual 6f scorer last summer who kept his form well after for his current yard, fourth in the mud at Haydock (6f) in October. Possibilities on his reappearance.

Form: 135804-

(3)

Gisburn¹⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 91| BF| D

7/1

Winless since 2021 but he goes well in the mud and caught the eye on occasions last term. Interesting contender now his mark has eased.

Form: 637360-

(21)

Able Kane¹⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: R Coakley| T: B R Millman| OR: 90| C| D

22/1

C&D winner but he ended last season under something of a cloud, beating only one at Ascot (7f) in September. Needs to get back on track after 6 months off.

Form: 603400-

(11)

Chairmanoftheboard²¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: J Channon| OR: 89| D

7/1

Useful 6f winner at his best but he didn't prove the easiest to catch right last term and ran poorly at Ffos Las on his final start. Others appeal more.

Form: 030636-

(7)

Faro De San Juan^t1¹⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Marco Ghiani| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 88| D

11/1

Useful ex-French 6f winner for Francis-Henri Graffard. Changed hands for €40,000 and no forlorn hope on his return/yard debut. Goes well on soft going.

Form: 673052-

(13)

Swayze¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 86| D

14/1

Gelded and improved to land 14-runner handicap at Newcastle (6f) on his return last month. Can give another good account back on turf despite taking a 3 lb rise.

Form: 05202-1

(15)

Bernardo O'Reilly¹⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: Billy Loughnane⁽⁵⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 84| CD

15/2

Took this event on his seasonal return 12 months ago and he largely ran well after, third in Ayr Silver Cup in the autumn. Back to his last winning mark now so he merits serious consideration in his follow-up bid with fine 5 lb claimer on board.

Form: 434358-

(1)

Blind Beggar^v⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 84| D

11/1

Ex-Irish sprinter who made it 2-3 for his current yard in 5f handicap at Chelmsford City 59 days ago. Up 5 lb but he was well on top at the finish there so not taken lightly.

Form: 5521-71

(12)

True Mason²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Harrison Shaw| T: D Carroll| OR: 83| CD

50/1

Three-time winner last term, including over C&D, but he was off the track after beating only one in 20-runner handicap at the Curragh 6 months ago. Needs to hit the ground running.

Form: 171170-

(22)

Mark's Choice¹⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Murtagh| T: A Keatley| OR: 83| D

80/1

His last six successes have come at Ripon and he also ended last term rather out of sorts. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 321060-

(14)

True Jem²³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 82| D

40/1

Three-time 6f winner last year, including when scoring on her seasonal return over 6f at Southwell. Off 7 months but she can't be dismissed.

Form: 173125-

(10)

Another Investment¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: N Tinkler| OR: 80| D

10/1

It's now thirteen runs since his last win in 2021 but he posted a creditable ¾-length fourth of 14 to Swayze in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 19 days ago. Not totally discounted.

Form: 26752-4

(9)

Strong Power^h,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 80| D

25/1

Enjoyed an excellent 2022 when garnering four wins but he's yet to hit top form this term, tongue tied when fair fifth of 10 in 6f handicap at Wolverhampton 22 days ago. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 34-3865

(17)

Prince Of Bel Lir^p³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: J Parr| OR: 79| CD

50/1

C&D winner but he has gone backwards since posting a solid reapperance fifth at Southwell in January. Has work to do despite a sliding mark.

Form: 134-560

Non-Runners

(6)

Sir Thomas Gresham²⁶

Weight: 9-3| Age: 8

T: S Durack J: Non Runner

(4)

Abolish¹⁹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 7

T: I Jardine J: A Mullen

(19)

Twelfth Knight¹⁸⁸

Weight: 8-6| Age: 4

T: Mrs R Carr J: J P Sullivan

Forecasts

Aleezdancer (9/2), Gisburn (7/1), Chairmanoftheboard (7/1), Bernardo O'Reilly (15/2), Another Investment (10/1), Blind Beggar (11/1), Faro De San Juan (11/1), Swayze (14/1), Dream Composer (14/1), Abolish (14/1), Tinto (16/1), Hyperfocus (18/1), Magical Spirit (18/1), Able Kane (22/1), Strong Power (25/1), Sir Thomas Gresham (25/1), Twelfth Knight (25/1), Intrinsic Bond (33/1), True Jem (40/1), True Mason (50/1), Prince Of Bel Lir (50/1), Mark's Choice (80/1)

Lots with chances but it could pay to side with BERNARDO O'REILLY who goes very well fresh and has slipped back to the same mark as when winning this 12 months ago. Fine 5 lb claimer Billy Loughnane rides for the first time too. Gisburn goes well in the mud and figures on an attractive mark so could emerge as the chief threat, although Blind Beggar has thrived since joining Mick Appleby and must enter calculations. Abolish is another weighted to have a say and completes the shortlist.